Taras Natyshak MPP, Essex

QUEEN’S PARK — In the legislature today, Essex NDP MPP Taras Natyshak asked the Minister of Transportation when the Liberal government plans to finish the four-laning of Highway 3 from Essex to Leamington. The minister refused to give a straight answer.

In 2006, the government approved the four-laning of Highway 3 from Windsor to Leamington, and promised that the entire project would be completed by this year. Most of the project was complete, but the last phase, from Essex to Leamington, remains unfinished.

“In 2013, we were told that shovels would be in the ground by 2018, but late last year, we found that the government is rebuilding this section of Highway 3 without the four-laning,” said Natyshak. “Does this mean that the government intends on ripping up the road, repaving it and then ripping it up again in 2018 for the four-laning, or has the government decided to postpone the highway widening for another generation?”

The highway was aptly named Bruce Crozier Way, after the late MPP for Essex.

“The late Bruce Crozier, called the four-laning of Highway 3 one of his greatest accomplishments,” said Natyshak. “I respected him a lot. He knew that this highway was a vital link for our economy, especially the expanding greenhouse industry, and for the safety of drivers. Will this government finish what Bruce started and commit to the four-laning of the Bruce Crozier Way from Essex to Leamington in the next update of the government’s five-year Southern Highways Program?”

Twice the Minister of Transportation angrily deflected, refusing to answer the question.